 Complementary
and alternative medicine
As complementary medicine gains in popularity, more and more women
are turning to alternative therapies to help them conceive, ease pregnancy
discomfort and see them through labour and birth.
Parents are also turning to complementary medicine to help treat many
childhood complaints. However, despite its popularity and availability,
complementary medicine isn't for everyone and can have many potentially
dangerous side effects.
What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)?
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has been around for hundreds
of years and includes different approaches and techniques for treating
the whole person. It is meant to be used as well as and not instead of
modern medicine.
The Institute for Complementary Medicine (ICM) which provides the public
with information on CAM says, "The word 'Complementary' means 'working
alongside' and we have taken that to mean working alongside other health-care
providers including the medical profession."
There are many different forms of complementary therapy, but some of
the more popular ones include;
- Aromatherapy - the use of essential oils from flowers, herbs, and
trees
- Acupuncture - using needles at specific points on the body to control
pain and other symptoms
- Herbal medicine - using plant preparations to treat, prevent, or cure
various conditions
- Reflexology - uses pressure points on hands and feet thought to correspond
to areas of the body
- Chiropractic - uses gentle pressure and manipulation of the spine
to relieve irritation on the nerves which run through the centre of
the spinal column.
CAM to conceive
In the UK more than 20 per cent of infertile couples have consulted
an alternative medicine practitioner, mainly because they were unhappy
with modern medical care.
- Chinese medicine and acupuncture - This is the most commonly
used form of CAM for couples who are experiencing problems getting pregnant.
Studies have shown that acupuncture can increase fertility by reducing
stress, increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs, and balancing
the endocrine system. Often, acupuncture is combined with Chinese herbs
to enhance the effect.
- Homeopathy - An alternative CAM, homeopathy looks at the person
as a whole, and is most often used to treat a variety of conditions
including recurrent miscarriage, endometriosis, anovulation, low sperm
count and recurrent infection.
- Aromatherapy - The use of essential oils and massage helps
to promote relaxation through the stresses of infertility. Various essential
oils have been used to support the immune and hormonal systems, promote
ovulation and sperm production and treat disorders like fibroids and
endometriosis.
Whilst many couples swear that complementary medicine helped them conceive,
there is doubt amongst more conventional doctors. Geeta Nargund, Consultant
and Head of Reproductive Medicine at St George's Hospital warns couples
who are contemplating CAM, "Please ask your consultant whether you are
likely to benefit from alternative therapies because there is no clear
scientific information."
CAM during pregnancy
As wonderful and exciting as pregnancy is, it is often filled with many
common complaints, ranging from nausea, to indigestion, to aches and pains,
especially during the last few months. However, as women become more aware
of the dangers of modern medication, more and more are turning to CAM
to ease their pregnancy discomforts.
- Chinese medicine, reflexology
and acupuncture - A study in 2005 found that acupuncture was the
most effective form of relief for pelvic pain in pregnant women, and
a more recent study also found it beneficial for pain during the last
months of pregnancy and during delivery. Zita West midwife and acupuncturist
says "We know from experience that regular treatments with Acupuncture
throughout a woman's pregnancy can be very effective in helping to relieve
pelvic pain. It is also an excellent form of non-invasive pain relief
for labour and an alternative to orthodox medical methods. Acupuncture
focuses on specific points to release endorphins, the body's natural
'feel-good' hormones"
- Nutrition and herbs - More and more pregnant women are choosing
to supplement their diet with vitamins and herbs, despite recent news
that supplements can be dangerous. Jan Pleshette, author of Health on
your Plate, says, "Studies show that supplements taken by pregnant women
result in fewer cases of premature deliveries, low birth weight and
heart defects."
- Aromatherapy - Although essential oils should be avoided during
early pregnancy, they can have many benefits in the mid and final trimesters,
especially to ease common complaints such as fatigue, stress and discomfort.
Aromatherapist and mum of three young children, Vanessa Nixon Klein,
says, "During pregnancy there are many instances when aromatherapy can
be a beneficial and helpful option whilst being very easy to deploy."
CAM for babies and children
Complementary medicine for children is popular amongst parents, with
studies suggesting that 99 per cent of parents would be happy to give
their children some form of alternative treatment.
- Massage therapy - clinical trials have shown that massage therapy
can improve the development of preterm infants, and indeed baby massage
has been shown to have very positive effects on babies of all ages.
- Acupuncture - parents' preference for alternatives to the sometimes
quite strong medications for many childhood conditions are seeing more
children receiving acupressure, the needle-free form of acupuncture
as needles are rarely used on children. June Tranmer, who specialises
in paediatric acupuncture at the Healing Clinic in York, says parents
have an increased awareness in the benefits of acupuncture. "We have
had hundreds of children coming through our doors and the numbers keep
going up."
- Homeopathy - just as homeopathy has increased in popularity
for parents, they are also increasingly using it on their babies, especially
as some remedies, such as teething and colic formulations, are readily
available in supermarkets. Family doctor Benjamin Kligler explains,
"These methods can be more gentle and have fewer side effects, two reasons
they are gaining in popularity for young children. Homeopathic remedies
(for teething) have no documented side effects and may be effective
for even the youngest."
- Chiropractic - many babies are born with slight damage to their
spines. Serious injuries such as dislocations and fractures are usually
noticed at the time of delivery but often minor problems go unnoticed,
and parents are left with an apparently healthy but unhappy baby. However,
slight damage to your baby's spine may cause several problems, leading
to an irritable baby and desperate parents. Birth trauma commonly results
in at least one or a combination of symptoms, all of which can be distressing
for parents and baby alike. With gentle cranial and chiropractic treatment
many parents see these problems resolved.
The dangers of CAM
One of the reasons that the use of complementary therapies is on the
increase is because alternative therapists usually spend longer with their
patients and claim remarkable results, a welcome relief to sitting in
busy surgeries for a brief 5 minute appointment with your overworked GP.
However, as the demand for CAM increases, more and more therapists are
setting up in business, often with only the most minimal of training as
the field of alternative medicine is not regulated or governed.
Therapist Kal Kotecha stresses the importance of consulting a qualified
practitioner before starting any form of complementary medicine. He says,
"Even natural substances can have negative effects on the body, especially
in pregnant women, and babies as the body may not be strong enough to
handle such powerful remedies."
- IVF concerns - Recently, research showed that CAM can actually
reduce the chances of becoming pregnant using IVF. Psychologist Dr Jacky
Boivin, of Cardiff University warned that herbal pills, for example,
might interact with IVF drugs.
- Aromatherapy in pregnancy - One of the most popular alternative
therapies during pregnancy is aromatherapy, yet many people are unaware
that some oils are far too powerful and should be completely avoided
during pregnancy.
Despite this, essential oils are easily bought in chemists and supermarkets,
with little or no warnings. Kal suggests that anyone wanting to use
aromatherapy, especially during pregnancy or on young children, should
see a qualified aromatherapist. "Although some therapies could help
alleviate discomfort during pregnancy, there are some that could have
serious adverse reactions."
- Children and herbs - Many parents fail to realise that some
alternative treatments that may have been beneficial to them may actually
not be suitable for their children. Researcher Gail Mahady says, "Parents
need to recognise that treatment of any disease with a herbal medicine
is really drug therapy, not dietary supplementation."
Another problem surrounding any form of CAM, is that for many parents
it is a desperate last resort, with up to 84 per cent of youngsters
with cancer receiving alternative treatments. Edzard Ernst, professor
of complementary medicine at the University of Exeter's Peninsular Medical
School says, "Serious dangers can arise when conventional therapies
are abandoned in favour of CAM.
Many childhood cancers are curable - with conventional methods - but
not with 'alternative cancer cures', yet children with cancer are particularly
likely to use CAM."
Despite concerns surrounding CAM, at least one in every two GP surgeries
offer some form of Complementary therapy to their patients, along with
at least 10 per cent of hospital doctors, and the number is steadily rising.
In 2001 a House of Lords Select Committee Report called for professional
standards, registration and accountability in all aspects of CAM, but
currently it is only osteopaths and chiropractors who have professional
standards.
Acupuncture and homeopathy are likely to be the next specialities to
require compulsory registration, although no date has yet been set.
What you should do before choosing a CAM therapist
- If you are seeking a CAM practitioner, speak with your primary health
care provider(s) regarding the therapy in which you are interested.
Ask if they have a recommendation for the type of CAM practitioner you
are seeking.
Some midwives and consultants are very much aware of complementary treatments
and may know of local practitioners who specialise in pregnancy..
- Make a list of CAM practitioners and gather information about each
before making your first visit. The ICM has a list of registered professional
practitioners throughout the UK. Ask basic questions about their credentials
and practice.
Where did they receive their training? What licenses or certifications
do they have? How much will the treatment cost?
- After you select a practitioner, make a list of questions to ask at
your first visit. You may want to bring a friend or family member who
can help you ask questions and note answers.
- Come to the first visit prepared to answer questions about your health
history, including injuries, surgeries, and major illnesses, as well
as prescription medicines, vitamins, and other supplements you may take.
- Assess your first visit and decide if the practitioner is right for
you. Did you feel comfortable with the practitioner? Could the practitioner
answer your questions? Did he respond to you in a way that satisfied
you? Does the treatment plan seem reasonable and acceptable to you?
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